OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron, focusing primarily on its effects on haemoglobin, requirement for transfusion, and risk of infection. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials investigating the safety and efficacy of intravenous iron therapy. DATA SOURCES Randomised controlled trials from Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane ...

AIM Higher dosages of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been associated with adverse effects. Intravenous iron is used to optimize ESA response and reduces ESA doses in haemodialysis patients; this meta-analysis evaluates the magnitude of this effect. METHODS A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Collaboration Central Register of Clinical Trials ...

BACKGROUND The potential benefits of administering a dose of intravenous iron in patients with moderate postpartum anaemia rather than oral iron alone remains unproven. AIMS To determine whether a single injection of intravenous iron followed by a 6-week course of oral iron is as effective over 6 months in restoring normal haemoglobin levels and replenishing iron stores in women with moderate...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Anemia guidelines for CKD recommend withholding intravenous iron in the setting of active infection, although no data specifically support this recommendation. This study aimed to examine the association between intravenous iron and clinical outcomes among hemodialysis patients hospitalized for infection. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS This was a retro...

This is the first study to investigate the efficacy of intravenous iron in treating fatigue in nonanemic patients with low serum ferritin concentration. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 90 premenopausal women presenting with fatigue, serum ferritin ≤ 50 ng/mL, and hemoglobin ≥ 120 g/L were randomized to receive either 800 mg of intravenous iron (III)-hydroxide sucrose ...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of intravenous iron to oral iron in the treatment of anemia in pregnancy. METHODS In this randomized open-label study, 90 women with hemoglobin levels between 8 and 10.5 g/dL and ferritin values less than 13 microg/L received either oral iron polymaltose complex (300 mg elemental iron per day) or intravenous iron sucrose. The iron su...

Iron is an essential trace element that is important for normal body function. However, excess iron in animal studies has been shown to be toxic, because it can enhance radical oxygen generation, impair neutrophil and T-cell function, and also promote bacterial growth (1,2). This dichotomy requires the body to meticulously regulate iron homeostasis, perhaps more than any other substance. Iron c...

Intravenous iron therapy is pivotal in the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease to optimize the response of hemoglobin to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. Intravenous iron use in patients with chronic kidney disease is on the rise. Recent clinical trial data prompting safety concerns regarding the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents has stimulated new US Food and Drug Administra...

Iron deficiency is a major cause of hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and is often observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with anemia. With iron supplementation, ESA doses can be decreased, resulting in lower treatment costs and possibly lower cardiovascular risks that are associated with high-dose ESA therapy. The 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Ou...

BACKGROUND Intravenous iron is a recognized therapy of anaemia in chronic haemodialyzed patients, especially in those receiving erythropoietin (Epo), while its role in the anaemia of pre-dialyzed chronic renal failure (CRF) patients is much less clear. This study attempted to evaluate the effects of intravenous iron in anaemic pre-dialyzed patients. METHODS Sixty anaemic (haemoglobin<11 g/dl)...